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ARDA Fall Conference

Every autumn brings an air that is crisp and filled with a sense of change and each autumn the ARDA Fall Conference takes a look at the past year as it prepares for the upcoming new year. This year, industry leaders came together in positive synergy to look at 2018 and the endless possibilities that it holds. This air of positivity was strongly felt throughout the conference halls, in the courtyard, around dinner tables and even overflowing into the city streets of Washington DC. It helped to fuel our industry workshops and meetings during the conference, as we begin to develop key strategies that will lay the foundation for our industry’s continued growth. This year’s program took a deeper-dive into the economic and political environments that surround our business and the initiatives that help to drive our industry forward. Here are a few highlights:

ARDA Trustees mingled during the Trustee Foundation Dinner at the Kreeger Museum hosted by First American Title Insurance Company.

ARDA-ROC Legislative Luncheon special guest speaker A.B. Stoddard shared insightful analysis of recent mid-term elections and key forces at work in the overall political landscape.

ARDA president and CEO, Howard Nusbaum gave the State of the Industry address, which included panelists (L-R) Robb Webb of Baker & Hostetler; Robert Spottswood of Spottswood Companies; Don Harrill of Holiday Inn Club Vacations; and Mark Wang of Hilton Grand Vacations.

Keynote speaker former Chief Economist of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Martin Regalia dispelled some of the mysteries of the U.S. economy (sponsored by Fidelity National Timeshare).

Chairman's League Breakfast (sponsored by Resort Travel & Xchange) speaker Charlie Cook, editor and publisher of The Cook Political Report and Columnist for the National Journal, shared his thoughts on political pundits and what to expect for the 2020 election.

Another Great ARDA World Convention is in the Books!

By Peter Roth, ARDA Vice President of Marketing and CommunicationsApril 17, 2014

I know that many of you attended this
year’s ARDA World Convention and Exposition in Las Vegas—in fact we
hosted nearly 3,000 timeshare professionals from around the world, with over 35
countries represented! And I think you’ll agree that the content, the
networking, and the all around sentiment were all top notch.

But in case you weren’t able to join us,
here’s a brief rundown of just some of the highlights.

Scott Klososky, a business leader and social technology and
trends guru, was the keynote speaker and he definitely got the crowd thinking
about their use of technology and what it means for their business in the
future. His message was clear: take a chance on embracing technology to reshape
your business now…before you are left behind.

Attendees
also got more “food for thought” from several timeshare CEOs from Disney Vacation Ownership, Marriott
Vacation Club International, Wyndham Vacation Ownership, and Welk Resorts. They
talked about how the industry is evolving to meet the next generation of
customers, technology, products, employees, and distribution channels.

Another
well-attended, positively-reviewed session was “Getting Serious About Social: A Social Media Show & Tell.” The
panelists shared strategies to communicate with consumers before, during, and
after their vacation. And they gave the audience ideas of how to do this
whether they were a social media novice or expert—all geared toward using social media
as a way to engage customers.

At the Awards
Gala on Wednesday night, the best and brightest in the industry were recognized
through the ARDA Awards program. A complete list of winners is available on ARDA’s Awards website. Congratulations
to all!

And finally,
I have to mention the golf, the parties and the camaraderie—it’s often these kinds of activities that
bring the most benefit to attending Convention: the relationships
you take home with you. Hope to see you at the 2015 ARDA World in Orlando!

The Universal Appeal of Timeshare

Vacations have a universal appeal—they’re a common interest that crosses cultures and borders, as evidenced by the expansive international presence timeshare already has today.

From Finland to Thailand to South Africa, timeshare is not only breaking ground, but also breaking records around the world. Sales at the Anantara Vacation Club: Phuket in Mai Khao, Thailand, have increased 100 percent, year over year. Kodagu Valley Resort in Coorg, India, is now working on a sister property, thanks to overwhelming demand. And a full sell-out of Grand Solmar Land’s End Resort & Spa in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico is projected in the next two years.

This indicates that demand for timeshare across the world is growing steadily—a trend we hope to see continue in the coming decade.

But the real beauty of international expansion is that everyone benefits. Consumers abroad have access to the product in their local regions, owners have the opportunity to travel to new, exciting destinations through exchanges, and the communities in which we operate locally reap the rewards from the continued growth of international tourism to America.

Over the years, we’ve broken down borders to the point where vacations are now a global enterprise. It’s safe to say the world is now more interconnected than ever—and when it comes to timeshare, the sky is truly the limit.

Read more about the universal appeal of timeshare in this month’s Developments magazine. And I’ll see you soon at ARDA World in Las Vegas!

What Lies in Wait for You in Vegas!

By Georgie Bohrod, RRPARDA Guest Blogger

February 26, 2014

With ARDA World right around the corner, it’s not too early to start planning for the industry’s biggest gathering.In addition to all the networking, festivities, and renewed connections that surround the event, ARDA offers the most comprehensive educational sessions to help newcomers and seasoned professionals stay current and informed.

This year, under the umbrella of the Resort Operations Council, Suppliers Council, and Construction & Design Council, members have the opportunity to help educate attendees about two important topics:

The new generation of owners – As we see an increase in ARDA members who represent mature resorts, it is clear that operations are just as important as a component of timesharing as sales and marketing. The session Generation Transition: How to Keep YourResort’s Product Relevant is directed at resorts whose aging owner base may be looking for a way to leave. The session will explore ways to physically improve the product to better appeal to a younger buyer, including what interior designs and components will best attract this segment and what technologies and amenities could be implemented to stay current.

The conversion of existing properties to timeshare products – On the flip side, a session called Everything That’s Old is Renewed Again will discuss relevant issues pertaining to conversion. They will examine important topics such as the best ways to assess which hotels and condominiums are candidates to be converted to timeshare. The panel will also look into risks and rewards in making this change. Converting condos and hotels into timeshares delves deep into the history of our industry, and this new spin on the historically successful concept is bound to offer innovative insights.

Educational sessions are only one aspect of ARDA World. The Expo Hall is another excellent place to learn more about what’s going on with members of the Suppliers Council, as well as scores of other vendors. Whether it is textiles, patio furniture, homeowner’s kits, cleaning supplies, or insurance—this is where you will be able to talk with experts first hand.

ARDA World 2014 – Where Everybody Knows Your Name

Ask any ARDA Convention veteran (that’s most of us), and they’ll agree—arriving at ARDA World is like stepping into an episode of the 80’s sitcom “Cheers.” Everybody knows your name, and they’re always glad you came. It’s a beautiful thing, really.

What’s remarkable about Convention is that it removes us from our silos and reminds us that we’re all a part of something bigger than just individual companies. Once there, we reflect on the challenges and opportunities we face collectively, consider where we’re heading as an industry, and brainstorm ideas to take us to the next level. We work together (regardless of being competitors outside the conference halls) to benefit the industry as a whole.

For those of you who haven’t yet had the chance to attend, I’m telling you now, you won’t want to miss this premier gathering for our industry. Convention is the place to be!

Expand your industry knowledge at ARDA World through:

Networking – Unique opportunities to meet face-to-face with your peers from across the world and expand your network to learn from one another, share best practices, forge new business relationships, and celebrate successes.

Education – With more than 40 exciting sessions running the gamut, from recruiting top talent and attracting the next generation of buyers, to navigating consumer protection laws and structuring deals in the new world order, this Convention has it all.

Trend Setting – ARDA maintains its status as the leading resource on the latest trends including IBM’s annual “5 in 5” predictions list naming big data at the center of the new era in computing. So don’t miss the chance to learn more about what it is, how to use it, and why you should care, at one (or both) of the big data sessions.

So come on down, where everybody knows your name! ARDA World 2014 promises to be another unforgettable occasion, and I look forward to seeing you there!

Gear Up for ARDA World With Your Creative Energy

By Kathryn Mullan, Editor of Developments Magazine

February 6, 2014

With ARDA World 2014 right around the corner, all of us at ARDA are thinking about the value of bringing our industry together. It seems that ARDA World serves its greatest purpose as a “connector” and a “collective”—otherwise known as a “collective connection!”

A recent article in Developments magazine discussed this very issue. It stated, “Collective progress comes from the application of collective intelligence: putting more minds to work on a problem…makes the discovery of new and better solutions much more likely.”

Isn’t that what ARDA World is all about? Innovation that becomes progress and then best practices…it’s been woven into the very fabric of our industry for 45 years. This energetic force field of new ideas dwells at the core of ARDA World.

We look forward to another year of bringing our industry together to create a mash-up of ideas, best practices, and brainstorm to fuel our own “collective creativity” engine to push forward in new ways.

ARDA Fall Conference 2013: Why You Need to Be in D.C. on November 13

The shutdown is over and D.C. is back! There is no better place to kick-off the next year of ARDA’s success than right here in our nation’s capital for Fall Conference.

The most valuable networking events, meetings, and expert panels in the industry will all be in one place for ARDA’s Fall Conference 2013—Wednesday, November 13, through Friday, November 15th.

What trip to D.C. would be complete without insight from the city’s top policy experts? This year, ARDA proudly features two exciting keynote speakers from right here inside the beltway. Get your toughest questions answered by tax policy professional Kevin Hassett, an economist who will share useful advice from his years of work as an economic advisor to prominent politicians.

And be sure to stick around until day three to hear from experienced political analyst and journalist Charlie Cook. Cook has written for some of your favorite sources for the latest in politics and is known for his applauded political newsletter, The Cook Report. Attendees of Fall Conference boast a peek inside Washington that non-locals usually miss.

Plus, be among the first to get an exclusive sneak preview of the new and improved ARDA consumer site, VacationBetter.org. Benefit from previewing what your customers will see when they search for reliable, comprehensive information on the industry and product.

If you’ve attended Fall Conference before, you know how important it is to be a part of the inner circle that crafts ARDA’s plan for the year. If this is your first year attending, you won’t want to miss the countless networking opportunities and insider tips that Fall Conference offers. We look forward to seeing you and your fellow timeshare professionals in the District on November 13!